Shiban Marik, a 54-year-old resident of the Dalit landless settlement in Bhokraha Narasingha Rural Municipality-7, has accused people’s representatives and teachers of vandalizing his home due to his Dalit identity. The victim alleged that Jadulal Shah, the Principal of Janata Secondary School in Bhokraha Narasingha Rural Municipality-7, and Bauwalal Yadav, the Ward Chairperson of the same municipality, vandalized his house on August 7, 2024, due to his Dalit background. Chairperson Yadav explained that Shiban Marik had built his house on land belonging to Janata Secondary School. Yadav stated that the house was demolished with police assistance because Marik had constructed the home on government and school land under the pretense of being landless.
The aggrieved party applied to INSEC and the National Human Rights Commission at the Koshi Provincial Office in Biratnagar on August 7, seeking justice. The victim claims that there are over 70 houses and concrete structures on the land of Janata Secondary School, yet no action has been taken against those occupants. He asserts that his home was vandalized because he is from the Dalit community. Marik also notes that he has lived at that location for the past 50 years.
After Shiban Marik sought justice from INSEC, INSEC obtained information from Jadulal Shah, the Principal of Janata Secondary School. When asked by the INSEC Sunsari representative if the vandalism of Marik’s house was due to his Dalit status, Shah explained that the vandalism occurred because Marik began constructing a concrete structure on school land. He clarified that bricks were removed to halt the construction, as building on government land is prohibited, and stated that the actions were not motivated by Marik’s Dalit status. Similarly, in response to INSEC’s inquiries, Ward Chairperson Bauwalal Yadav said that he arrived at the scene after being called by the police and the principal. He denied any discrimination, asserting that he did not treat anyone unfairly due to their Dalit status or landless identity.
The Constitution of Nepal has explained and arranged the right to housing in Article 37. Sub Article 1 of the same article mentions that Every citizen shall have the right to appropriate housing. Article 40 of the Constitution provides for the rights of Dalits. In sub-article 5 of the same article, it is mentioned that the State shall once provide land to the landless Dalit by law, and in sub-section 6, the state shall, by law, arrange a settlement for the Dalit who do not have housing.